Class 1: (September 19) Introduction

Required reading

Stephen Walt, “International Relations: One World, Many Theories”

David Shambaugh, “Introduction: Conceptualizing the US-China Relationship,” in David L. Shambaugh (ed.), Tangled Titans

Recommended readings

Nina Hachigian, Debating China, ch. 1 (Lieberthal and Wang Jisi).

Class 2: (September 26) Legacies of the past

Required readings

Sutter, US-China Relations: Perilous Past, Uncertain Present (2018 edition), chs. 3-5.

Eric Fish, “U.S.-China Relations as a Cycle of Rapturous Enchantment and Deep Disappointment”

Zheng Wang, “Memories, Crises, and Foreign Relations”

Recommended readings

Zhao Suisheng, “Reconstruction of Chinese History for a Peaceful Rise”

Alex Rosenberg, “The Making of a Non-Patriot”

Class 3: (October 17) Promoting comprehensive engagement and cooperation

Required readings

Sutter, US-China relations: Perilous Past, Uncertain Present, ch. 6 (“Tiananmen, Taiwan, and Post-Cold War Realities”)

Elizabeth C. Economy and Adam Segal, “The G-2 Mirage: Why the United States and China Are Not Ready to Upgrade Ties.”

David Lampton, “A New Type of Major-Power Relationship: Seeking a Durable Foundation for U.S.-China Ties”

Recommended readings

Robert Zoellick, “Whither China: From Membership to Responsibility?”

C. Fred Bergsten, “A Partnership of Equals”

Class 4: (October 24) Creating complex interdependence

Required readings

Stephen Roach, Unbalanced: The Codependence of America and China, Preface, chs. 9 and 10

Sutter, Perilous Past, Uncertain Present, ch. 9 (section on economic issues)

Hachigian, Debating China, ch.2, “The Economic Relationship” (Barry Naughton and Yao Yang)

Class 5: (October 31) Integration into the international community

Required readings

Yun Sun, “China’s Preferred World Order: What Does China Want?”

G. John Ikenberry, “The Rise of China,the United Sgtates, and the Future of the Liberal International Order,” in Shambaugh, Tangled Titans.

Recommended readings

Xi’s World Vision: A Community of Common Destiny, A Shared Home for Humanity” (http://english.cctv.com/2017/01/15/ARTIjfECMGRxn4TrlI0UqAcl170115.shtml)

He Yafei, “Paradigm Shifts in Global Governance.”

H.R. McMaster and Gary D. Cohn, “America First Doesn’t Mean America Alone.”

Daniel W. Drezner, “The Most Extraordinary Op-Ed of 2017.”

Class 6: (November 7) Building trust and personal relationships

Required readings

Kenneth G. Lieberthal and Jisi Wang, “Addressing U.S.-China Strategic Mistrust”

Nicholas J. Wheeler, Trusting Enemies: Interpersonal Relationships in International Conflict, assignment to be announced

Recommended readings

Hall, Todd, and Keren Yarhi-Milo, "The personal touch: Leaders’ impressions, costly signaling, and assessments of sincerity in international affairs." International Studies Quarterly 56.3 (2012): 560-573.

Morin, Jean-Frédéric, and Jonathan Paquin, Foreign Policy Analysis: A Toolbox, ch. 3 (“"Do Decision-Makers Matter?”)

Class 7: (November 14) Managing the unbalanced economic relationship

Required readings

David Dollar, “The Future of U.S.-China Economic Ties”

Bernard K. Gordon, “Getting to Investment Reciprocity With China: Why It's Time to Play Hardball”, Foreign Affairs, November 9, 2016

Recommended readings

U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “Made in China 2025: Global Ambitions Built on Local Protections”

U.S. Trade Representative, “2017 Report to Congress on China’s WTO Compliance,” January 2018

Class 8: (November 21) What went wrong? From partners to competitors

Required readings

Sutter, US-China Relations: Perilous Past, Uncertain Present, ch. 8.

Graham Allison, “The Thucydides Trap: Are the U.S. and China Headed for War?”

Harry Harding, “So Bloody Similar”

Recommended readings

John J. Tkacik, Jr., “Hedging Against China”

Josh Rogin, “The End of the Concept of ‘Strategic Reassurance’?”

Class 9: (December 5) What happens now? TERM PAPER DUE

Required readings

Philip Tetlock, “Why Foxes are Better Forecasters than Hedgehogs”

Aaron Friedberg, “The Future of U.S.-China Relations: Is Conflict Inevitable?”

Wu Xinbo, “Chinese Visions of the Future of U.S.-China Relations,” in Shambaugh, Tangled Titans

Harry Harding, “American Visions of the Future of U.S.-China Relations: Competition, Cooperation, and Conflict,” in Shambaugh, Tangled Titans

Recommended readings

Sutter, US-China Relations: Perilous Past, Uncertain Present, ch. 13

Hachigian, Debating China, “Conclusion” (Steinberg)

Student workload Class: 2 hours Outside class: 4 hours

TBA

While there are no formal prerequisites for the course, students should be familiar with the broad contours of the U.S.-China relationship and with the most important theories of international politics and international political economy, especially the major variants realism, liberalism, constructivism, and critical theory.

Assessment:

Class participation (20%)

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  Careful reading of the assignments for each week, and regular attendance and active participation in class.

  
  
  

  Reflection on readings (40%)

  
  


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  A brief commentary (one or two sentences) on each week’s readings, describing either the most important new idea or conclusion that you drew from the readings, or the most compelling question that remains in your mind, to be posted before class through the Slido app for your classmates to read.

  
  
  

  Term paper of 1000 – 2000 words (40%)

  
  


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  For students in the doctoral program: the term paper should identify a possible dissertation topic, and then identify the question you want to ask about that topic. Why is it interesting and important? Where would your thesis fit into the existing literature on US-China relations or international relations? Sketch out the sources and methods you will use to answer the question you have identified.

  
  


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  For students in the master’s program, the paper should be on one of the topics listed in the supplementary files.